Texas AFL-CIO President Becky Moeller blasted Gov. Rick Perry’s veto of HB 535, a “Buy Texan, Buy American” bill, questioning why the Governor would place the interests of foreign companies over the interest of Texas and American workers.

HB 535 by Rep. Yvonne Davis, D-Dallas, and Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, would have established a preference for state purchase of Texas and American manufactured goods when they are of equal cost and quality to foreign-produced products. The Senate voted for the measure 23-7 and the House, 145-0.

“Gov. Perry by his veto has undercut the creation and preservation of manufacturing jobs in Texas and the U.S.” Moeller said. “These jobs are critical to our economic success. Despite the governor’s grandstanding in California and Illinois and his rhetoric about jobs, the veto of HB 535 reveals a painful truth: this Governor won’t stand up for American jobs or Texas workers.”

“We again thank the Legislature for its hard work and the outstanding advances on ‘Buy America’ issues in this session.”

“We call on lawmakers to consider using their override power to repeat the patriotic support for home-grown jobs embodied in HB 535. An override would tell the working families of Texas that their interests are more important than those of multi-national corporations that profit from outsourcing, off-shoring and elimination of Texas and American jobs.”

The Texas AFL-CIO is a state labor federation representing 235,000 affiliated union members who advocate for working families in Texas.